Crown-corking machine



April 3, 1928. 1,664,881

J. W. FLOWER CROWN CORKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8. 1924 2 $heets-$heet 1April 3, 1928. 1,664,881

J. w. FLOWER GROWN comma MACHINE Filed Aug: 5. 1924 u 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Apr. 3, 19528.

- UNITED STATES JOHN WALTER FLOWER, F WIMBORNE, ENGLAND.

cnowN-ooRKmG MACHINE.

Application filed August 8, 1924, Serial No. 730,988, and in GreatBritain February 19, 1924.

This invention relates to a machine for fixing metal capsules, of thekind generally known as crown corks, upon the tops of bottles and aparticular feature of the invention that hydraulic pressure is appliedand is automatically controlled to any required degree and in such amanner that the machine can be used with bottles of different lengths toall of which the same pressure will be applied. It is therefore possibleto so adjust the pressure that exactly the correct amount is appliedwith minimum risk of breakage which is a frequent occurrence when thepressure is applied mechanically, say through springs the effort ofwhich will vary according to the varying lengths of bottles.

In the ordinary way the crowns are sealed by forcing the neck of thebottle into a conical die, into which the crowns are fed either singlyby hand, or by an automatic feed arrangement.- The bottle may either bepushed upwards into the die, or the die brought down upon the bottle, inboth cases the length of stroke is definite, being produced directly bya crank, eccentric or cam.

In my invention, fluid pressure is used to transmit the movement of acam, eccentric or equivalent to a ram which pushes the bottle upwardsinto the crowning die, and a. spring loaded valve allows anysurplusfluid to escape at a predetermined pressure, the effect being that if abottle is long a greater quantity of the fluid will escape by the valvethan will escape if the bottle is short, but the upward pressure uponthe bottle will be the same in both cases. A

cushion spring or buffer may be provided under the bottles.

I will now describe my invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows substantially the whole machine in vertical section, thecrown cork hopper being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View of the lower part of the same machinewith parts omitted; and

Fig. 3 is a view drawn to a slightly larger scale of part of the upperportion of the machine with the crown cork hopper and shows the drivefor the agitator thereon and which may be of usual or convenient form.

In this example the machine comprises a body or frame 1 which acts as anoil container. This body is mounted on wheels as shown and can be movedfrom place to place.

On the cover of the body is a column 2 carrying the crowninghead 3 whichis of usual form and is adjustable vertically by means of the threadedrod 1 and nut or sleeve 5. a

A pump is arranged at 6 in the body and is adapted to apply hydraulicpressure by the duct 7 to the ram 8 upon the outer end, The

9 of which the bottles are placed. duct 7 is formed with an outlet 10controlled by a valve 10 normally held closed by a spring 11 adjustablethrough a threaded member 12 to vary the tension on the valve. Obviouslyunder a predetermined. pressure in the fluid, according to the set ofthe valve, the outlet will open and the ram will be relieved ofadditional pressure without regard to the additional movement of the.pump plunger. The vent 10 is controlled by a spring, the tension ofwhich may be adjusted by a pressure member threaded in the casing of thevalve and bearing on one end of the spring, this being a conventionalconstruction.

Adjacent the said outlet or relief valve is an inlet valve 12 surroundedby a gauze or filter indicated at 12. A pressure gage may be connectedto the duct 7 Above these parts is a shaft 13 on which is an eccentric14 for driving the pump 6. This shaft is normally out of engagement witha constantly driven worm wheel 24 but can be put into engagementtherewith by means of a clutch 16 which is fixed upon the shaft and iscontrolled from the foot lever 17. This lever is connected to a rod 18which is adapted to lift a pivoted arm 19 and thus release aspring-controlled dog 20 and effect clutch engagement. When thisengagement takes place the piston 21 of pump 6 is thrust down and oil isforced under the ram 8 thus raising it and pushing the bottle againstthe crowning die. When the predetermined pressure is reached'the reliefvalve opens and exhausts into the container as above stated. Upon thereturn or suction stroke of the piston 21 the required supply of oil isdrawn in by the valve 12. The spring dog is disengaged from the wormwheel by the arm 19 in only one position of the shaft 13.

The worm wheel 24 is driven by a worm 22 from a power drum 23 andrevolves freely on the shaft 13 when the clutch is disengaged. On thesame shaft is a bevel wheel 25 in'mesh withapinion 26 on rod 27 which iscarried up to the hopper 28 is adapted to drive an agitator of: anyusual; or desired type, through the operating means shown at 29.

I have not shown the driving means but mayemploy an electric motor and ma general way the same can be advantageously mounted on the cover oftheframe. 'VVhen required, power can be transmittedfrom the sh'aft'13 bypulley 31 for the purpose of driving a rotaryjfilling machine.

the ram. 1

[brings t The'bottles may eitherbe placed singly by hand upon the headof the ram, or may be placed in cups upon arevolving table,'which Itmust be understood that the machine shown isian example only of howihesame may be constructed and it will be observed that in 'thismachinethere is no up anddown shortest size of bottle to be crowned movementof-the crowning head while the machine is Working. The head is adjusted,

and. clam ed at a hei ht suitable for the and the bottles are pushed upintoithe die.

1 WVhat I claim is I l. A machine for fixing crown corks on bottles ofdifferent heights without adjust .ment of themachine, including a body,a

crowning headcarrie'd by the'body, a ram i operative through, the bodyin line with the crowning head, thenormalclistance between the ram andhead being for bottles of maximum length, a pump selectively operativein the body and operative 1n a single stroke to elevate the ram andbottle carried thereby to the crowning head and then subject thefram toa sufiicient pressure to complete the crowning operation, and meanswhereby .nthepressure of the pump for the crowning operation may belimited to a predetermined em successively into position over maximumirrespective of the length of the bottle positioning stroke of the ram.

2. A machine for fixing crown corks on bottles of difierent heights,including a body,

acrowning head carried by the body, a ram operative through the body inline with the crowning head to present bottles to said head, the bottlepositioning stroke of the ram serving to move intoeoeperation with thehead any and all lengths of bottles including and of less length thanthe maximum length bottle forvvhich the machine may be set, afluidpressure pump for movingthe ram throughout anylength of positioningstroke and thereafter, subjecting the ram'to a PI'BSSUIQSUlllClQl'lt forthe crowning operation, and manually adjustable means whereline with thecrowning head,- the normal distance between the ram'andhead beingnforbottles of maximum length, awpump selec ,tively operative in the body, aductleading from the pump to the ram to cause the-pump to exert alifting pressure on the ram to move the bottle into cooperation with thecrowning-head, and manually-adjustable means cooperating with said ductto maintain a constant pressure on the ram following the cooperation ofthe bottle carried by the ram and the crowning head to thereby maintaina constant crowning pressure irrespective of the length otstroke of theram.

In testimony whereof'I aflix'my signature.

"JOHN YVALTER: FLOXVER.

